Rent Brighton Rock (1947)

Gangster Noir. - Brighton Rock review by Steve

Slender adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel, which everyone remembers primarily for Richard Attenborough's performance as Pinkie, the insidious, baby-faced killer on the mean streets of Brighton between the wars. The film creates a heavy climate of fear, in which the numb, sociopathic gangster can thrive.

While the plot is slight, the perennial Greene theme of Catholic doctrine gives the film extraordinary weight, even when soft pedalled in apprehension of US censorship. Pinkie marries a naive, devout believer so she can't testify against him. She is so vulnerable, willing to live in a state of sin, because she loves, even though hell is very real to her.  

Carol Marsh was an artless and inexperienced actor, but well cast as the wife, and she is as haunting as Attenborough. The conclusion (changed from the novel) when she plays a recording of Pinkie's misogynistic hate, expecting to hear her love echoed, is shattering. The chief weakness is the role of Hermione Baddeley as a kind of amateur sleuth.

The shoot was on location around a squalid, seedy Brighton, which is a symbolic hell. There is an interior set of the filthy slum where Pinkie's gang lives... This has the pessimism of film noir but looks ultra-realistic. The mood is subdued, banal, rotten and utterly evil. There's a case for Brighton Rock as the best ever British gangster film.

One of the Best Films Ever Made - Brilliantly written, acted, shot & deeply sinister - Brighton Rock review by PV

This a superb film. I have read the novel and the film necessarily leaves a lot out. Graham Greene we a Catholic convert hence the fixation on faith, hell, heaven, redemption, whether people change, forgiveness etc. WENT THE DAY WELL (1942/3) is also based on a short story by the author and also one of the best films ever made.

The deeply sinister Pinkie Brown, meant to be 17 though Richard Attenborough does look older to be fair, is superbly played - still, sinister, psychopathic and disturbed by a childhood in which he has 'seen love' (ie witness his parents having sex, no doubt all living in 1 room in poverty in a slum). He has a horror of sex and closeness.

The plot merits 2 or 3 viewings - it is neat and makes sense, lots of little clues as one goes along.

The women acting are great - and Rose can only play the innocent which Pinkie corrupts, and is just eye candy. The older character Ida steals the show as the old trooper who will not let go. The drunken old soak lawyer is wonderful too.

William Hartnell future Dr Who has a main role here.

Great locations, The Palace Pier now called Brighton pier, and the other one,the West Pier, sadly derelict and torched in 2002 (deliberate? Who knows).

Brighton has the look of a town helping police with their enquiries, so they say. Some bits still are, and I lived there 2 years so know it. Close London connection. But these days on-trend and full of commuters who work in the capital.

5 stars. Of its time, but of course it is, as are we all, and this was made 1947/8 when marriage mattered as did virginity for girls.

One of the MUST-SEE films of all time, in the top 50 of films ever made.